Improved smoothing-iron



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN CHRISTY, OF BALTIC, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVED SMOOTHING-IRON.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,481, dated February 25, 1862.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN CHRISTY, of Baltic, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Smoothing-Irons; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in

which- Figure l is aplan of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the iron being shown in a longitudinal section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

The object of this invention is to provide a ready means of detaching the handle from the iron to enable it to be kept cool while the iron is being heated, and also to make one and the same handle answer for a whole set or a number of irons of different sizes; and it consists in a simple combination of parts whereby the desired result is effected in an easy and expeditious manner, as will behereinafter fully described.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the iron, which may be ofthe usual or of any desired shape or size, and of cast ory malleable or of any other suitable metal. In thetop of this iron and extending longitudinally thereof through the middle is an oblong mortise B, in which the legs of the handle are placed and spread apart to secure the handle to theiron. The iron at each end of the oblong mortise is undercut equal to onehalf the depth of the mortise from the bottom up, forming ledges a l), with which the feet c d of the legs respectively7 engage when spread apart in the mortise.

E represents the handle of the iron and C D the legs ofthe same, which are attachedthe former at the front by a pivot e and the latter at the back end-rigidly in any suitable manner. The leg C above the pivot terminates in a bar G, which shuts in a groove formed in the top of the handle, and when shut therein corresponds with the contour of the handle. This bar projects over the back end of the handle in the form of two ears g h, between which a gravitatin g catch 'L' is pivoted and engages with a latch projection j on the outside of the leg D to secure the bar in a closed condition and with it the handle irmly to the iron. The legs C D being the exact width of the oblong mortise in the iron and when spread apart tting nicely in the ends the same, secure the handle to the iron as firmly as if it was permanently attached in the usual manner.

The iron being placed over the fire to heat, the handle is detached fromv it by taking hold of the leg D with the left hand and lifting the catchtwith the one nger of the right hand,which disengages it from the latch projection, when by lifting the end of the bar to which the catch is attached by means of the catch the leg C is partly withdrawn from the mortise in the iron, (shown clearly by red lines in Fig. 3,) leaving the other leg` free to be moved forward in the mortise to relieve the foot, when the handle is free to be removed froni the mortise and iron.

To attach the handle to the iron the legs are irst placed in the oblong mortise and spread apart by grasping the bar and handle in one hand and pressing them together. The catch t', when the legs are properly adjusted in the mortise, being forced down by its gravitating end, engages with the latch projection j on the leg D and securely locks the handle and iron together.

The principal advantage to be derived from having the handle so arranged that it can be detached from the iron at pleasure is that it enables the laundress or other person using the iron to always have a cool handle to take hold of, instead of having to wrap a hot handle with a cloth or holder to keep the hand from being burned.

Making one handle answer for a whole set of irons enables them to be furnished at a much cheaperl rate than when each iron has its handle permanently attached, as is usually the case.

I do not claim, broadly, so constructing a smoothing-iron that its handle can be detached at pleasure; but

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The handle E, bar G, gravitating catch t', latch proj ectionj, and legs C D, provided with feet c d, in combination with the oblong mor? tise B, ledges d b, and iron A, when arranged vto'operate in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

- JOHN CHRISTY. Witnesses:

CHRISTOPHER FLYNN, GEORGE SMITH. 

